Hammock-spreader



(No Model.)

^ P. A. THOMAS.

HAMMOGK SPREADER.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. THOMAS, OF' CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

HAMMOCK-SPREADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,690, dated November 3, 1885.

i Application filed Septembf'r 14, 1885. Serial No. 176,995. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. TnoMAs, of Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new Improvement in Ham mock-Spreaders and I do hereby declare Jehe following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a View of spreader detached; Fig. 2, a portion of a hammock, showing the spreader introduced; Fig. 3, a modification showing a coil in the body of the bar.

` This invention relates to an improvement in hammock-spreaders.

The common device for spreading the ends of hammocks is a wooden bar notched at each end to engage with the sides of the hammock; but this bar is necessarily rigid, and thereby renders the hammock uncomfortable. Again, on account of being so rigid, the strain upon the sides of the hammock is liable to break the threads. l

The object of this invention is to avoid these difculties; and it consists in an elastic metal bar with a hook formed at each end to engage with the outside edges of the hammock, as hereinafter described.

A represents the bar, preferably made from spring-wire, and preferably curved, its ends turned upward and inward in a plane parallel to the spring, and then outward in the same plane, forming an underturned hook, a, at each end to engage with the respective sides of the hammock, as seen in Fig. 2. To render the bar more elastic, it may be constructed with one or more coils, b, upon the body of the bar, as seen in Fig. 3. It will readily be seen that this bar provides a cheap spreader, which will hold the hammock distended, and one that will adapt itself to the Weight in the hammock, elastically yielding more or less, and is not liable to break the threads of the hammock. By bending the ends of the bar s o as to form the underturned hooks the outer bend of the bar forms a guard or shield to protect the ends of the hammock.

I claiml. As an article of manufacture, the hereinbefore-described hammock-spreader, consisting of an elastic metal bar constructed with underturned hooks a at each end, su bstantiall y as described.

2. A hammock-spreader consisting of an elastic metal bar constructed with underturned hooksa at each end and with one or more coils in its body, substantially as described.

Y FRANK A. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

JOHN THOMAS, J. H. DIXON. 

